Changes are on the way for a program that deals with at-risk youth in Edmonton. The High Risk Youth Unit is expanding however, youth and their workers are worried it may disrupt the relationships they have spent years developing.
The High Risk Youth Unit, located in Strathcona, was put in place by Children’s Services in 2005, to provide one on one relationship building with youth at risk.
“I got sexually assaulted, I was a victim. I felt like no one was there to listen to me,” explains a youth who uses the unit. She cannot be named, for the purpose of this story we’ll call her Jane.
Jane says it was through the High Risk Youth Unit she met youth court worker, Mark Cherrington.
“They really take the time to get to know you. They don’t want to know you for the paper that you’re on. They want to know you for who you are inside,” Jane explains.
Workers on staff at the drop-in unit have a lower case load so they can concentrate more on developing individual relationships with troubled youth.
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“Our relationship has grown over the years. She can call me and I can call her and I try to keep her safe and involved in school,” explains Cherrington.
“Mark is my advocate. If I need something, Mark’s there. If I need help, Mark’s there. If I tell him I don’t like something he says ‘we’ll change it,’ and he helps me figure out a plan to change it,” Jane explains adding, “He’s like my dad. I trust him with everything, he always has the best advice, he has never let me down once.”
In an effort to expand services, two of the four workers at the Strathcona unit are moving offices. Cherrington worries this will disrupt the relationship youth workers have worked hard to build with the young people at the centre.
“We’re dealing with a very close team that we had a great relationship with and they’ve all been fractured, and there’s dismay, there’s shock, there’s anger and there’s this sense of hopelessness.”
The manager of communications services and supports with the High Risk Youth Unit says it is focusing on expanding the program, and services at the Strathcona unit will not be impacted.
“They’re still going to be able to get service out of the drop-in unit. They’re still going to be served by the same worker. All that we’re trying to provide is that service across the entire city,” explains Trevor Davis adding, “We’re not closing this site, we’re not disbanding the unit.”
He says there must have been a miscommunication about the changes the service is making.
“It’s just one of those things where a message gets around and some of the intent of that original message must have gotten dropped.”
Children’s Services promises the drop-in centre in Strathcona will remain open and social workers will be available to youth regardless of where their office is located.
“If a youth still wants to be provided service out of the (original) office, just like any worker, we ask that they are flexible and provide that service to the youth.”
Davis says the two workers who are being displaced will not have their case loads changed.
Children’s Services plans to add eight additional workers to the unit by the end of the year, in an effort to provide services to at-risk youth across the city.
With files from Jenna Bridges.
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